ABSTRACT

This paper interrogates the paradox of pathological treatments of certain transnational flows in a time of pandemics. Reflecting on COVID-19 developments in Singapore between January and October 2020, the paper traces the city-state’s struggles against risks posed by different (im)mobile bodies within and surrounding its territory. While initially vowing not to ‘isolate’ itself, Singapore was seen to move incrementally toward tightening domestic and international mobilities, culminating in broad-based ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions in April 2020. Through an analysis of policy manoeuvres and news reports, the paper examines1) the graduated (and gradual) stoppage of aeromobilities among (even) kinetic groups, and 2) the dispersal and quarantine of low-skilled migrant workers usually stationed at peripheral enclosed spaces, as the city-state confronted multiple, unanticipated dormitory outbreaks. In both cases, the management of pathological risks took a turn, as (im)mobilities once thought to be non-risky turned out precisely to be high-risk. Singapore’s response to COVID-19 not only highlights the unevenness of resource distribution and citizenship rights among different transnational groups, but also uncovers the dangers of bifurcating transnational flows in discriminatory ways in a post-pandemic world.

抽象的

本文探讨了在大流行时期某些跨国血流的病理治疗悖论。回顾2020年1月至2020年10月新加坡在COVID-19方面的发展情况，该论文追踪了该城市国家针对其领土内及其周围不同（im）移动物体所构成的风险所做的斗争。最初，新加坡誓言不要“孤立”自己，但逐渐被视为朝着加强国内和国际交通的方向发展，最终在2020年4月达到了对基础广泛的“断路器”的限制。 ）在（甚至）动力学组之间停止（逐步）停止航空运输，以及2）通常驻扎在外围封闭空间中的低技能移民工人的分散和检疫，由于这个城市国家面临着许多突发性的宿舍疫情。在这两种情况下，病理风险的管理都发生了变化，因为曾经被认为是无风险的（不）机动性正被证明是高风险的。新加坡对COVID-19的回应不仅突显了不同跨国集团之间资源分配和公民权的不平衡，而且还揭示了在大流行后世界中以歧视性方式分流跨国流动的危险。